Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

There have been several Pontiac powered 4th gen GT BIrds. I suppose the Hatari Bird is the most famous. Leo Glasbrenner ran one for several years.

The one I wanna look at next has been most recently driven by John Agneta. I've seen it referred to as the Johnny Duncan car. 3 pics I have were taken when Johnny was driving the car. His #3256 is on the windshield. The car also shows up, under Johnny's name, on the Auto Imagery site.

I'm not sure of this, but another pic I have was said to be of a car that Sam Biondo was driving. Auto Imagery does indeed show a very similar looking car, under his name. So, until/unless I find out different, I'll assume it is the same car. That means that Sal & Peter Biondo probably also drove it some. So, the car probably made LOTS of races, while the Biondo's were racing it.

Anyhow, it shows up on DRC as a '95 model, with Johnny Duncan driving, in 2008.

4/25/08 - Southern Nats - #53 - .860 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop

5/16/08 - Thunder Valley Nats - #31 - .663 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2008#indextop

4/17/09 - Southern Nats - #45 - .854 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2009#indextop

7/19/14 - div 3 race - #56 - .538 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2014#indextop

10/19/14 - Northern Sports Nats - #49 - .609 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2014#indextop

6/19/15 - Thunder Valley Nats - #22 - .384 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2015#indextop

I have no idea who owned it after Johnny, or who owns it now. Another Pontiac GT racer posted that when John Agneta drove it, the car had a 4X head 400 in it.

At this race, Sean Pickett was driving it, listed as a '96 model. At that race, John Agneta was listed @ #27, driving a '98 Bird. That was said to be the Phil Monteith "Hatari" Bird.

8/19/17 - div 1-6 - #23 - .745 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2017#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Hey, the Class Racer Nats came along just in time.

A pic was posted showing what I assume is the red Bird I just mentioned, as well as the white Hatari Bird.

It was posted that Sal Biondo is driving the white Bird, & Sean Pickett is driving the red Bird. Both cars now have "Hatari" on 'em. Don't know if that means that Phil Monteith owns both cars, or just that he has a hand in both.

John Agneta posted that he & Sean Pickett own the red car, & Phil owns the white car, & that the white car has a Montieth Racing 428 & the red car a 400. Dylan Biondo's Stocker also has a small Hatari on it. So I assume that's also one of Phil's engines, or at least he had a hand in it.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

At Earlville, according to the DRTV video, Bill Rink's little '74 GTO was #1 qualifier in SS, @ 1.145 under !

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

At the Texas double, this past weekend. J.B. Clegg ran a 9.623, in the Clegg '73 SD455 Bird. As far as I know, this is the quickest reg SS Pontiac powered car ever, unless their '74 SD455 Bird went quicker. Don't know what the best ever ET is, for either car.

But, both of those were stick cars, when they ran their quickest times. As far as I know, the John Angeles '69 RAIV Bird is the quickest ever reg SS Pontiac powered car, which had an auto trans. John's daughter, Keri, has done most of the driving, for many years now, & is said to have made the 1st ever 9 sec pass, in a reg SS Pontiac powered car, back in 2000.

Don't know what the car's quickest ever time is, in reg SS legal form. But I know it went 9.765, back in 2006. Don't think another reg SS Pontiac powered auto trans car has gone anywhere near that quick.

As always, if anybody knows this info to be incorrect, please post the correct info.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

At the 5th div 3 Lucas Oil Series race of 2020, Don Kennedy was #1 qualifier & the only car in the field more than a sec under his index. Not sure, but I assume that 9.042 ET was not far from the car's best ever ET. Have never seen a recorded time for the car, in the 8's.

9/26/20 - div 3-5 - #1 - 9.042 - 1.058 under.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2020#indextop

For any who may not know, Don's little Sunfire is powered by an alum head 428 Pontiac engine.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Carrol Warling's beautiful GTO last weekend at Kearney, Ne. MCR event:

https://i.imgur.com/jrL02fVl.jpg

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

This was one of the videos posted in the Stock/SS section.

@ the 10:16 point is Keri Angeles driving the John Angeles '69 SS Bird. This car & driver are said to be the 1st regular SS Pontiac 400 powered car to break into the 9's, back in 2000.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d24NRIQkjCI&t=34s

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2001#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Just a few words to complete the interesting Pontiac racing history some of you are compiling. I did purchase Jack Mullins 73 Super Duty. It had a stick and I changed to an automatic and really woke it up. The car had an impressive winning streak and did set a record in the process. As my friend John Clegg reminds me often, The biggest expense on the car was front tires, as we went through them often trying to adjust to the new "break out "rules. The previous picture of the flats were at the Winternationals during the quarter final round. There were several other simular episodes, so I decided to go comp racing in econo funny car with the former Gene Snow Snowman car (Pontiac Astra) this time with ram air v equipment. I returned to Super Stock with the Larry Pacey 74 Super Duty delivered to my home by Darrell Gwyn in his funny car hauler on the way to the west coast. The car was never defeated in National class events and won many local and Points races. We set the national record in SS/LA as a formula car powered with the 400 engine. It was this car that that got the attention of Kenny Bernstein and the Budweiser-Motorcraft group for the Super Team. I joined the Team as the Super Stock pilot in a Mustang and traded the 74 to John Clegg for a custom Weather Master 42 foot hauler built of course by John.
I have tried to trace the 73 car after I sold it to a young medical student in Houston but have been unsuccessful. The 74 is the car JB Clegg is now successfully campaigning. Hope this helps complete the interesting history on the previous pages.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Anybody know where The Herslow & Morlock '73 SD455 Bird was an E/SA nat record holder car went? Is it’s still racing today as one of the current SS cars?

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

It was converted to a 74 400 car. Phil Monteith owned it, I believe, and Sal Biondo won a race or two with it
I don't think it's one of the few that are still out there.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

OK guys, I've got a question now about GT cars. Must have help from racers on this, since I can't(or don't) always find the answers online.

Since GT cars can run engines from other brands & years, you can't always know what engine a GT car is running, by just looking at a qualifying list.

Example: There are LOTS more Pontiac body GT cars running a Chevy engine than a Pontiac engine. But, I've mentioned quite a few '82 & later Pontiac body GT cars that have run a Pontiac engine.

IIRC, I've only mentioned 2 non-Pontiac GT cars, that I know of that have run a Pontiac engine. These 2 are both Cobalts.
One belongs to Robert Cruzen. One belonged to Irvin Johns(driven some by Todd Frantz). By the way, these are 2 of the quickest Pontiac powered GT cars, ever.

My 1st question is: What other non-Pontiac GT cars do ya'll know of that runs, or has run a Pontiac V8 engine ? :confused: Would like to have owner/driver names, years run, and whether the car is still active, with Pontiac power. Pics would be great, too.

All help with this will be appreciated !

PS: As I'm sure I probably mentioned, The Robert Cruzen Cobalt run in the 8's & as far as I know is the quickest Pontiac powered GT car. And Todd Frantz won the GT/FA class @ Indy, a couple of years back. Pretty sure the Cruzen car is still active, with Pontiac power. Not sure about the Irvin Johns car.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Scott Burton just won SS at the div 6 race @ Yellowstone ! He was driving his Pontiac powered 3rd gen GT Bird. :)

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r=100#indextop

PS: It's not a SS car, but at this same race, Scott's wife, Diane, got 3rd place in Stock, in her '74 Bird. And, in the 3rd round, she beat her son, Brad, with a perfect .000 light ! OK Mom ! :)

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

They've got Stock/SS qualifying & class runoffs today @ Indy. After qualifying, looks like Irvin Johns & Bill Rink have a good chance to pick up their class wins.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

BUT, with so many drivers "sandbaggin", you never know who may be able to run 2 tenths quicker than their qualifying time. I noticed that was happening in the 1st round of Stock class runs.

If the car Irvin Johns is driving is the same one Todd Frantz was driving in 2019, then both these cars have won class at Indy, before. Bill's '74 GTO has won class there, several times. He ran the same car at Indy back when it was still a Stocker. As he posted on this site, he switched to SS, because NHRA hit him with so much hp.

I'll add this as an edit.

Irvin Johns did win the GT/EA class, in the All-Pontiac powered final against Stacy McCarty. Bill Rink was RU in his class.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

This pic was posted from this year's US Nats. The car is a '78 T/A. The driver is Monte Howard.

To me, this is one of the most famous of all Pontiac SS cars.

Why ?

It was #1 qualifier at Indy in 2005.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2005#indextop

And, the Bird won it's class from '03 thru '07. That's 5 years in a row ! Won again in 2010. It 1st showed up on DRC in 1998. Ken Shawver was driving thru '06. Monte was listed as the driver in '07.

Here's an Email Monte sent me.

"The 2010 US Nationals class win was a pretty good story.

We went to Indy with a fresh engine, after our first run it was not quite as fast as I would have liked, second run it was slower. I cut the oil filter apart to find the filter full of bearing material. Not in a very good mood. I sat in the trailer thinking we were done for the weekend, I came up with a idea. Thinking my first qualifying run would get us qualified for the show. I decided to head home and put our spare short block in the car. Left the track at noon on Thursday thinking I could have it back together for first round of the eliminator on Sunday. With the help of good friend Dean Davies we started pulling the engine around 2:00 pm Thursday afternoon. By midnight we had the engine and trans out, pulled the heads, Intake, Cam & Lifters, timing chain, oil pan and pump off the hurt engine. My friend was tired and went home at midnight. He asked how long are you gonna work on it. I said well I am gonna work as late as I could. Knowing that if things went smooth that I might be able to make it back to Indy the next morning for class eliminations . I drug out the spare short block that consisted of a block, crank, rods and pistons. Cleaned up all the parts, degreed the cam in, assembled the rest of the engine and had it in the car and fired up at 3:00 am. Loaded the car and all the tools, went in the house took a shower and slept for 45 minutes and then left for Indy. With only 45 minutes sleep we ended up winning class on Friday with a spare short block that I had to scotch brite the rust out of the cylinder walls.
My friends that I parked with at Indy knew when we left Thursday that our plan was to be back Saturday night or Sunday morning. They where shocked when we pulled back in our pit spot Friday Morning. Bill Rink walked over and asked where I went. I told him the story and he said “you are nuts”. " :)

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Today at the Mopar Nats, John Agnetta got the GT/LA class win, in the Pickett & Agneta Pontiac powered 4th gen Bird. I think it has "Hatari" power, from Phil Monteith.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

After 3 rounds of qualifying, he's in #17 position.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Just noticed that the Mike Morgan 350 Pontiac powered '77 Formula Super Stocker is for sale.

This is the car that Sal Piacentini raced. It has won class at Indy, & was RU to Bill Rink a couple of times.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2016#indextop

Has run more than a sec under. Was 1.233 under @ Indy in 2018, good enuff for the #11 position.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2018#indextop

$35,000.

http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...39&postcount=1

That's a lot of money to me. But, considering what lots of guys are spending on competitive SS cars nowadays, I suppose this is actually a really good price.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Well ya'll, Robert Cruzen just made it into the SS final of the Midwest Nats !

For any who don't know, Robert's little Cobalt is 428 Pontiac powered. It's the quickest Pontiac powered SS car I know of, having turned an 8.90, in the GT/AA class final @ Indy, a few years back.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

He won the Wally ! :)

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

I somehow missed this. I'd seen pics of a Sal Biondo win. There wasn't a real good pic of the entire car. But, I'd figured out that it was a '74(or at least LOOKED like a '74).

Therefore, I would have never guessed it to be the old H&M '73 car. Did Phil Monteith buy it from Phil Szupka, or ?

Decided to compare the #1 pic to this #3 pic I have of the car when Phil Szupka had it. I can see one sign that this is indeed the same car. The "NHRA" just over the door is in exactly the same place & at the same angle. Looks like they changed the contingency decals & lots of other stuff, but retained the NHRA nat record holder words over the doors. Have no idea what happened to it after that.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Irvin Johns just made an 8.782 pass in his 428 powered Cobalt. If that time is correct, I think it is the quickest ET ever, for a Pontiac powered SS car, in competition.

http://classracer.com/classforum/sho...80&postcount=7

The previous quickest pass I'm aware of was 8.90, made by Robert Cruzen, in his 428 powered Cobalt, in his GT/AA class win @ Indy, back in 2016.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2016#indextop

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

I ran my 3rd gen. IN GT/FA,GT/GA and GT/KA for a few years with 6x 400. Ran some 10.20s in GT/HA IN 1999-2004. Also ran 425 caddy for a few races.set GT/KA & GT/LA records with caddy power. Now owned by John Frech. Can’t seem to be able to download photo.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

I ran my 3rd gen.(TAT’R) in GT/FA,GT/GA and GT/HA for a few years with 6x 400 power,Ran some 10.20s in GT/HA IN 1999-2004. Also ran 425 caddy for a few races.set GT/KA (Bristol )& GT/LA (Orlando)records with caddy power. Now owned by John Frech. Can’t seem to be able to download photo. Bruce Campbell former NHRA/IHRA 2704 S/SS

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

I ran my 3rd gen.Firebird (TAT’R) in GT/FA,GT/GA and GT/HA for a few years with 6x 400 power,Ran some 10.20s in GT/HA IN 1999-2004. Also ran 425 caddy for a few races.set GT/KA (Bristol )& GT/LA (Orlando)records with caddy power. Now owned by John Frech. Can’t seem to be able to download photo. Bruce Campbell former NHRA/IHRA 2704 S/SS

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Give me some division and/or nat events you ran, with the Pontiac engine. I did a search for your name on DRC. Got results from several Bruce's, but not yours. Then tried B Campbell. Got results for several Campbells, but not yours.

OK, you mentioned Bristol. Found you at Bristol '03, running a GT/HA '88 Bird. Was #69, with a 10.743. So, if I understand your info correctly, this was done with a 6X head 400 Pontiac engine. If this is NOT correct, please post links to Q-lists where you were running a 6X head 400.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...r2003#indextop

So, can you name some races that would be on the DRC files, where you ran those low 10's, with Pontiac power ?

Would love to have some good pics for my files, so I can post 'em in a few places. There are probably several other Pontiac powered GT cars I don't know about, that have run since GT began, because the brand of engine is seldom listed on DRC Q-lists. And I have even less info from before 1998.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

I've mentioned that unless the brand, or sometimes the size of an engine is listed on a Q-list I find online, there is no way for me to know which GT cars have Pontiac power.

And even then, sometimes I can't tell, from the online info.

For example: If the engine is just listed as a 350. That could be any one of several GM brands, but usually means a Chevy brand 350. Same for 400 cube engines, & 455 cube engines.

But, if it's listed as a 326, 389, 421, or 428, in a GM body, that sorta narrows it down.

So, for you guys reading this, who know, if you see that I'm listing a car as being Pontiac powered which is not, or was not at the time I'm referring to, please post that info here, so that I can correct my files & post only accurate info

Thanks to all who will help me with this. I've posted a Pontiac winner here, when actually, the car was another brand. It was just listed wrong on DRC. Also posted that a guy was driving a Corvette, when he was actually driving his newly debuted '69 T/A tribute car. In both cases, I just posted the info I read on DRC. But, just because you read it on DRC, don't make it true.

So, if any of you guys know of Pontiac powered GT cars I have not listed, OR know of some I have listed as being Pontiac powered, when they are(were) not, PLEASE post that info, so I can correct it. Don't wanna leave out any Pontiac powered GT cars, or post that any cars were Pontiac powered, that weren't.

Thanks for any & all help in getting this info correct ! :)

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

I won the 1999 NHRA division 2 points meet @atlanta ga. Ran an old worn engine 6x 400 but still did ok. Ran the div2 national open in Montgomery Ala.don’t remember which year. Tried to get gt/ha record of 10.25 ,best it would run was 10.261, close but no cigar. Ran IHRA national event @ darlington SC,IHRA Divisonal &farmington nc (runner up). , IHRA Carolina dragway sc. (runner up). Hard to remember Dates of all races I entered, getting old and forgetful. Bruce Campbell former 2704 S/SS

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Bruce,
What RPM were you turning with the 6x 400? I would be interested in any other information about the engine you might be willing to share.



Thanks
Stan

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Here he is at Rockingham in '01, listed as driving an '82 Bird @ #8, with a 10.336.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCStory.asp?ID=37286

Couldn't find any of the div races mentioned. Back in those days, I don't think DRC had results for all the div races.

But hey, Bruce is on the DRC map ! :)

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Stan, Used to turn it 1-2 shift 6600, 2-3 shift 7000,7600 + thru the traps 1/4 mile .Was hard to due with stock block. Had to due a lot of buttom end work to keep oil in the pan. Also had junk heads back then, non welded exhaust, no intake epoxy.we did it all without a Dyno. Now have access to a dyno,but too old to start over again. With all the new stuff (technology) you could make the 400 combo fly. Bruce Campbell. Former 2704 S/SS

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Stan, Used to turn it 1-2 shift 6600, 2-3 shift 7000,7600 + thru the traps 1/4 mile .Was hard to due with stock block. Had to due a lot of buttom end work to keep oil in the pan. Also had junk heads back then, non welded exhaust, no intake epoxy.we did it all without a Dyno. Now have access to a dyno,but too old to start over again. With all the new stuff (technology) you could make the 400 combo fly. There’s a picture of it on autoimagery Bristol 2001? Can’t seem to be able to post it. Bruce Campbell. Former 2704 S/SS

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Stan, Used to turn it 1-2 shift 6600, 2-3 shift 7000,7600 + thru the traps 1/4 mile .Was hard to due with stock block. Had to due a lot of buttom end work to keep oil in the pan. Also had junk heads back then, non welded exhaust, no intake epoxy.we did it all without a Dyno. Now have access to a dyno,but too old to start over again. With all the new stuff (technology) you could make the 400 combo fly. There’s a picture of it on autoimagery Bristol 2001Bruce Campbell. Former 2704 S/SS

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Bruce,
Thank you for sharing that information.


Stan

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Bruce.
In 2002 would this be with the 6x 400 power?


2002 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series

DIVISION 2
Silver Dollar Raceway
Reynolds, GA May 31-June 2

SUPER STOCK
9. Bruce Campbell, Waynesville, N.C., GT/HA, '88 Firebird, 10.575, -0.775


DIVISION 2
Atlanta Dragway
Commerce, GA August 9-11

SUPER STOCK
8. Bruce Campbell, Waynesville, N.C., '88 Firebird, GT/HA, 10.535, -0.815


DIVISION 2
Darlington International Dragway
Darlington, SC October 4-6

SUPER STOCK
10)Bruce Campbell, Waynesville, N.C., GT/HA, '88 Firebird, 10.458, -0.892



Stan

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Stan , yes Pontiac power, old combo, Later I made a few changes and picked it up quite a bit . It was never a rocket ship but ran pretty good for home grown antique parts. Bruce Campbell former S/SS

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Bruce,
Did you ever run a -1.xx under?


Thanks again for sharing.
Stan

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Stan ,ran 10.26 on 11.35 index (10.25 record)@Montgomery D2 National open . Ran 1.00 at rockingham . Of course that was with great air. Couldn’t run this good in summer air.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Pics please !

If you can't post 'em on this thread, please Email 'em to me & I'll post some.

speedbarn455@gmail.com

Thanks !

https://autoimagery.photoshelter.com...LQRJqA-&GI_ID=

Here's the pics he sent me. Some not real good quality. But the best I can do.

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

This is Phil Monteith's SS/FA "HATARI" '69 RAIV Bird, @ Indy.


Who can tell me what year this pic was taken ? :confused:

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

Scott Burton won the Div 5 SS championship this year, driving his Pontiac powered '91 Bird ! :)

https://www.nhra.com/standings/2021/...ab=super-stock

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

There are only 2 Pontiac powered SS cars entered @ the Pomona Finals race. But, I'm glad to see both of those cars on the list. Art Peterson is on the list with his '69 GTO, which he has raced for a long time.

Keri Angeles is also there, with her familiar '69 Bird. But, it's listed in GT. If the pre-entry info is correct, the car now has 428 power. If so, I assume it has the Edelebrock alum heads. I assume they finally decided that the RA4 heads are just too rare & expensive to race.

https://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCS...er=30#indextop

https://www.nhraeventreg.com/ListEve...PC2&cc=7&rn=23

Re: Best Pontiac Powered Super Stockers
 

This is a salute to Phil Monteith.

His "Hatari" Pontiac powered SS cars have probably won more races & nat championships than any other Pontiac powered car.

I assume he began with his '69 RAIV Bird, which he ran in B/SA for a few years, before switching over to SS.

He later bought the former Herslow & Morlock '73 SD455 T/A nat record holder. He switched it over to a 400 powered '74 model. Sal Biondo drove it to his 1st nat event win, in '90.

Phil then fielded an '82 model Bird in GT Super Stock. Peter Biondo won his 1st SS nat championship in it.

Since then, Phil has been running a 4th gen Bird in GT, 1st with a 400, then switching over to a 428. Peter won at least 2 more nat championships, picking up lots of big wins in Phil's Pontiac powered Bird.

Phil still runs the 4th gen & has a hand in the Pickett/Agneta 4th gen & the Biondo 2nd gen Stocker Bird.

So, Phil has quite a history in Pontiac powered class racing. My hat's off to him ! Congrats Phil, for all your success in Pontiac powered drag racing ! :)